Apparatus for protecting tme vbaishcs o



' (No Model.) Z'Sheets-Sheehl- 'W. H; BELL. Apparatus for Protecting the Banks of Streams.' I No.239g-920.

Patented April 12,188].

UNITED STATES WILLIAM .H. BELL, .OF ORLEANS, .LQUISIANA.

APPARATUS F 1R PROTECTING "THiE FBANK'S m as T'REA M- s.

SPECIFICATION forming ,part of Letters Patent No. "239,920, "dated .iApr'il 1'2, Iss1.

Applicationfiled Deceinber 20,.1880. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. BELL,-a

1 resident of the city of New Orleans, parish of Orleans, and State of Louisiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus and Method for Protecting the Banks of Streams; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and correct description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for fending off currents, breaking eddies, preventing erosion of banks, and causing alluvialbearin g streams to deposit. sediment over, between, and in the fenders, by which process the banks will be protected and accretions formed.

My invention consists in a fender for submersion, constructed of brush, bagasse, orother suitable material, arranged in layers having the shape of a cross.

My invention further consists in a fenderblock composed of wooden frames, in which brush or bagasse or other suitable material is arranged in layers crosswise, in combination with weighted material between the same.

Myinvention further consists in means,l1ereinafter described, for lowering the fenderblooks.

In order that my invention may be more readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents my method or mode of laying or connecting the layers of brush or other suitable material crosswise. Fig. 2 represents a complete cross-shaped fender, secured together by means of fender-frames, in condition for submersion. Fig. 3 is a crosssection of a river-bank coveredwith a number of the fenders. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a river or stream with a line of fenders or fenderblocks along one bank thereof. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a means for lowering the preferably of the two cross-frames F, secured at certain distanceapart by means of vertical bars g, pinned to the ends of the cross-frames, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In some cases a rectangular frame, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, may be employed for accomplishin g the same object. This frame consists of wooden frames, each of which is composed of four pieces, a b c d, with mortised ends, and these frames, when put together to secure the fender, are securely fastened by means of keys or wedges e c, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. These fender-frames, which are either square or triangular, as before stated, may be made of any desired size or length to receive the brush, bagasse, or other material used for undergrowth brush, cane, or bagasse, is arranged in the frames in cross-layers-that is to say, the layers are arranged at right angles to each other in the shape of a crossand weighted with bags of sand or other heavy material, which are preferably placed inside of the filling, as indicated by the letter f, in dotted lines in Figs. '1 and 2 of the drawings. When the required size of fender is made, the top frame is adjusted in position over the filling and securely keyed, thuscompleting the fender for submersion.

A fender of the construction and form as hereinbefore described and shown will prevent it from being rolled about under the force of currents and eddies.

The blocks are lowered from barges to the bed of the river at any desired locality, by a device consisting of four self-acting hooks, g h 11 is, suspended from a double T-frame, the latter raised or lowered bymeans of chains 1 1.. The hooks are at sufficient distance apart to prevent the fender -blocks from turning and altering their positions during their descent to the bed of the stream, and to release them selves by swinging clear of each block after it has been placed in proper position.

This lowering device (seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings) placed. The width of base and height of each line of fenders, as well as distance apart, is to be determined by the local necessity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Afender-block for submersion, constructed of brush, bagasse, or other suitable material, arranged in layers crosswise, having the shape of a cross, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The fender-blocks herein described, composed of wooden frames, in which brush, bagasse, or other suitable material is arranged in itumw 

